The University of Sussex is particularly
well-suited for students with an interest in
international development due to its strength
in this field but is open to students of all
disciplines. Students are within a one hour
train ride of London but based a few minutes
away from the seaside city of Brighton.

Where You Will Study

Situated on the edge of the Sussex Downs, the University campus is like a large, self-contained village, with lecture theatres, seminar rooms, libraries, labs, accommodation, restaurants, bars, shops and sports facilities all within easy walking distance. Just a few minutes away is the lively, friendly seaside town of Brighton with its great leisure facilities and its rich, eclectic cultural life including regency architecture, pleasure pier, specialist shops, pavement cafés, lively arts scene and a vibrant nightlife are all within walking distance. Located about one hour by train from London, Brighton is a great base for exploring both a dynamic urban setting and also the rural countryside of Southeast England.

Academics

Founded in 1961, the University of Sussex has become a leading teaching and research institution characterized by a number of academic strengths, including research excellence, internationalism and interdisciplinary studies. Sussex has an international reputation for its innovative styles of teaching and for the quality and range of its research work. Academic links with every continent, over 2,300 international students from 100 countries, and teaching staff from 40 nations give the University a strongly international feel. Sussex is the only university in England which is entirely located in a designated "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty".

The University is organized into Schools of Studies and Graduate Research Centers, rather than more traditional faculties or departments, promoting the cross fertilization of knowledge between subjects. Over 200 undergraduate and 120 postgraduate courses are offered to the nearly 12,000 students.

In general, British universities place a greater emphasis on independent learning than most undergraduate programs in the United States. In contrast to American universities, where course syllabi delineate the professor's expectations of the student for each week of the academic term, most British professors rely on the student's self-direction, research and study of outside readings to guide the courses of their learning. In this way, the curricula are comparable to graduate programs' style of scholarship in the United States. (Students in the fields of science or engineering might find their course curricula to be more structured than that of the arts or social sciences with a strong emphasis on laboratory work). Although, the British pedagogical approach may appear somewhat relaxed it, in fact, provides a very challenging and invigorating environment in which to study. Students are responsible for their own learning and must be self-motivated and committed to their independent studies in order to succeed.

Although many British courses are designed as full-year units, most allow students the option to enroll on a per-term basis. British university classes generally meet as large lectures, seminars, group discussions and/or tutorials. Lectures, seminars and discussions are similar to those taught at the UW in terms of size and general format. Tutorials are one-on-one or one-on-two discussions with the professor teaching the course.

If you’re looking for a record of how courses from this institution have been transferred in the past, visit the credit equivalency database to help you determine what foreign courses might satisfy your academic needs here at the UW.

For more information on how these courses will appear on your UW transcript, please visit: credits for exchanges

Housing

Students are responsible for securing and funding their own housing in Sussex but are encouraged to apply for university accommodations at the host institution. Student housing is an exceptional way to meet British students and to integrate into campus life. Campus accommodations are guaranteed for year-long and autumn term only exchange students. Students applying for other study terms as part of the exchange should note that campus accommodations for these terms is limited and alternative housing options may need to be considered.

All University accommodations are self-catering, with cooking facilities in communal kitchens. Kitchens are shared by five to twelve students. Most students who live off campus do so as part of a host family arrangement or in private, rented accommodation, mainly in Brighton & Hove. Sussex's Housing Office has a database of available properties to assist with private accommodation searches.

Program Expenses, Financial Aid & Scholarships

As a participant of a university exchange, you pay an exchange fee equivalent to UW tuition (1.5 quarters of UW tuition for semester-long exchanges, and 3 quarters of UW tuition for academic year exchanges). Exchange fees are determined by UW residency status: in-state students pay an exchange fee equivalent to in-state tuition, and out-of-state students pay an exchange fee equivalent to out-of-state tuition. The exchange fee and IPE administrative fee are charged to your UW account and due by the UW tuition deadline for your term(s) of study abroad. You should also budget for additional expenses such as international airfare & transportation, books & course materials, visa & passport fees, study abroad insurance and personal expenses.

For the total estimated costs of this particular program, you may request a budget by filling out a Budget Request Form.

For more information about budgeting, financial aid, and scholarships for study abroad visit our page on Finances.

Application Process

To apply for this exchange, click the "Apply Now" button and follow the prompts to create an application. After you create your application, click on each of the links on your study abroad application homepage and complete the remaining application requirements: questionnaires, material submissions, and electronic signature documents.

University exchanges may also require completion of a secondary application specific to the host institution. Instructions about this process will be provided to you by your study abroad adviser following your selection for the exchange.

Program Evaluations

After participating in a UW Study Abroad program, students are asked to complete a Program Evaluation Report detailing their experiences abroad and giving advice for future students. These reports cover all aspects of a student's time abroad, including orientation, academics, housing, finances, and cultural differences.

To see past students' evaluations for the University of Sussex Direct Exchange program, click on the link below.

Note: student names and contact information have been crossed off for confidentiality reasons. If you would like to get in contact with a previous participant of this program, please inquire at the Study Abroad Office or email studyabroad@uw.edu.

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